LIFETIME ACCESS to all videos! Gorgeous illustrated printable pages. Work at your own pace on a password-protected website. Instructor guidance and feedback as often as you like. Draw, paint, and letter with me.
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Birds & Butterflies on Vintage Postcards
Mini-course (Five video lessons + 12 printable pages)
4 Vintage postcards included
LIFETIME ACCESS $65
Create artwork inspired by the lovely nature journals of Victorian explorers. We’ll start with stamped and postmarked vintage postcards, then add gouache (opaque watercolor) and colored pencil for unique portraits of favorite bird and butterfly species. Keep your video access permanently.
What information does the course cover?
Using step-by-step instruction delivered in five 45-minute video lessons, plus 12 full-color printable pdf pages, you’ll learn:
- Design principles to plan your postcard art
- Basic science drawing techniques to draw your subject OR…
- A simple method to transfer your reference image with no drawing needed
- How to paint black butterflies and how to paint light-colored butterflies
- Painting closeup views of birds’ heads and painting whole birds
- Brushstrokes and pencil strokes that create realistic textures
- How to layer and blend gouache and colored pencil
- How to mix colors with confidence
- Fun and interesting choices for background shading
- Tips for shading birds’ eyes and butterflies’ wing patterns
- Ideas for framing or displaying your finished postcard
What supplies do I need?
The course is designed with a very modest, basic supply list. If you have previously taken an online course with me, you already have some (or possible all!) of the supplies. Click here for the list:
Where do I get vintage postcards?
Wherever you are in the world, I will mail you two stamped and postmarked vintage postcards (for painting) and two additional blank vintage postcards (for practicing). If you fall in love with postcard art and decide you want more, old postcards are available at most antique shops and on eBay.
Where do I get reference images of butterflies and birds?
A large collection of high-resolution, color reference photos will be posted on our course website. All images will be licensed for our use, so you may freely download them for the class or you are welcome to use your own images, if you prefer.
What if I only want to paint butterflies? Do I have to paint birds, too?
You are completely free to choose your projects. Only butterflies (or only birds) will be fine. Do what makes you happiest.
How does the course work?
All lessons, videos and printables will be located on a private, password-protected website. When you sign up, I will email the site link and password to you.
You will have immediate access to all the course material. You may access the site anytime and work at your own pace. Unlimited instructor guidance and feedback is available by email.
There is also be a private Facebook group for my students around the world, which is completely optional. It’s a safe place to share comments, links and images with others taking the course.
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Drawn & Decorated Watercolor Lettering
10 Lessons – work at your own pace
LIFETIME ACCESS $50
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD SUPPLY LIST PAGE 1
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD SUPPLY LIST PAGE 2
Create original, decorated letters using watercolor, Pigma Micron pens, pencils and a brush. Includes 10 complete projects representing a wide range of styles and historical periods. Topics include illuminated initials, Celtic knotwork, vines and flourishes, Quickhand for your own art journal, creative page design, tips for designing a unique personal alphabet, three easy steps to Deco chrome letters and much more. My first and most popular course.
Questions about Drawn & Decorated Watercolor Lettering? Email me!
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Birds in Watercolor and Beyond
10 Lessons – work at your own pace
LIFETIME ACCESS $50
Explore new watercolor techniques (ranging from realistic to whimsical) as we paint birds from around the world. Topics include brushwork, color mixing, a dramatic ink resist, painting skies and clouds, painting foliage, painting on toned paper and more. No experience needed.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD LIST OF LESSON TOPICS
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD SUPPLY LIST AND INFO PAGE 1
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD SUPPLY LIST AND INFO PAGE 2
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD SUPPLY LIST AND INFO PAGE 3
Some photos from Birds in Watercolor and Beyond:
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Birds in Colored Pencil
9 Lessons – work at your own pace
LIFETIME ACCESS $50
With step-by-step guidance, learn to create “gentle pencil” foundation drawings and then layer rich colors on top to create elegantly detailed, illustration-quality colored pencil images. This course uses detailed video demonstrations of technique, step-by-step illustrated printables and personal feedback on completed projects. We’ll mix up classical drawing theory with a dose of natural history, with topics including drawing feather texture, drawing birds in flight, shading for highlights and shadows, color blending, basic bird anatomy, drawing birds of prey, drawing backgrounds and habitat, drawing birds’ eggs and nests, and much more. No experience necessary, and the supply list is quite basic.
Some photos from Birds in Colored Pencil:
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Draw Dogs & Cats
8 Lessons – work at your own pace
LIFETIME ACCESS $50
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SUPPLY LIST
No experience necessary — the only prerequisite for this course is a love of our four-legged family members. Working in pencil for some projects, black-and-white charcoal pencil for others, develop your drawing skills by learning to create glossy fur, expressive eyes, animals in action and at rest. Topics include drawing puppies and kittens at different stages of growth, four techniques for drawing white fur, drawing realistic dog noses, drawing dog and cat caricatures and more. Licensed reference images are provided for every lesson, or you may use images of your own dog or cat. Very minimal supply list.
Eight video lessons, each accompanied by illustrated printable pages:
- Pencil Language – How to unlock your drawing pencil’s full range of textures and values. How to draw lifelike eyes. Project: create a realistic sketch of a short-haired cat.
- Shiny Fur and Wet Noses – How to draw long, glossy fur. How to draw a perfect wet nose. Project: choose a reference image (or use your own) to draw a long-haired cat or dog.
- Kittens and Puppies – How to draw kittens and puppies, in different growth stages from newborn to young adult. How to draw facial proportions. Project: Pencil sketching exercise, kittens and puppies.
- Black and White Charcoal – Warm-up sketch with tips for using charcoal (kitty sketch). Step-by-step Boston Terrier puppy on toned paper. Project: Black/white dog or cat of your choice in charcoal.
- Brush and Ink – Warm-up sampler exercise, using grays and blacks. How to draw with a brush. Step-by-step border collie in brush and ink. Project: Black/white dog or cat of your choice, in brush and ink technique.
- Caricature and Charcoal Wash – How to dilute charcoal with water to make a lovely, grainy texture. How to draw cute, informal caricatures of dogs and cats. Project: Create a collection of dog and cat caricatures in charcoal wash.
- Drawing White Fur – Learn five different techniques for drawing realistic white fur. Draw a fluffy white kitten. Step-by-step white sheepdog drawing. Project: Use the lesson techniques to draw the white dog or cat of your choice.
- Animals in Action – Understand physical characteristics of moving animals. How to draw realistic paws from many angles. How to use perspective to position animals in your drawings. Finding the dynamic line. Creating preliminary form drawings. Project: Drawing cats and dogs in motion.
Some photos from Draw Dogs and Cats:
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Draw Owls: Designed for the Dark
4 Lessons – mini course – work at your own pace
LIFETIME ACCESS $40
Develop fundamental drawing skills in pencil and charcoal as you sketch some of nature’s most efficient (and beautiful) predators. Each week will feature a new technique and a new species of owl. No experience necessary — this class is specially designed for beginning and intermediate artists.
Lessons are information-rich, each consisting of multiple videos and illustrated printable pages, and will be posted on a password-protected web page. Instructor guidance and feedback is available as often as you like, through email.
Supplies for this course:
- 4B drawing pencil, any brand
- Soft kneaded eraser
- Supply of inexpensive sketch paper for practice
- Black charcoal pencil
- White charcoal pencil
- 2 sheets of toned charcoal paper (gray or buff)
Photos from Draw Owls: Designed for the Dark:
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Draw Horses & Ponies
10 Lessons – work at your own pace
LIFETIME ACCESS $50
CLICK FOR SUPPLY LIST INFO
I grew up with horses and have always loved drawing them, so I’m very excited about this: Registration is now open for Draw Horses and Ponies. Use pencil, pen, ink and brush to draw horses of all breeds (from tiny Falabella miniatures to enormous draft horses) and life stages from birth to old age. Includes how to draw each gait, as well as jumping, shying and rolling. Draw horses under saddle and in harness. There is a lesson on drawing riders (both Western and English) and one on donkeys and mules. Explore realistic pencil renderings and playful, impressionistic brush drawing. No experience necessary!
The course includes 10 instructional videos, and 30 illustrated pdf pages for you to print and keep. I’ll provide one-on-one guidance and feedback at each step of the journey.
Drawing Children
8 Lessons – work at your own pace
LIFETIME ACCESS $50
It’s not too hard. I promise! This course is designed for EVERYONE. If you have always wanted to draw people — or if you would like to sharpen your skills — put your hesitation aside and join me.
In eight incremental lessons (each including video and 3-5 illustrated printable pdf pages) we will cover everything you need to accurately sketch children from infant to age 5. I will also provide a library of licensed reference photos, and also advise you if you want to work from photos of your children or grandchildren.
LESSON SEQUENCE:
- Lesson 1 – All About Eyes. Techniques for drawing lifelike eyes; drawing reflected light; how the eyes change at different ages; drawing closed and half-closed eyes.
- Lesson 2 – Mouth and Nose. Baby mouth and button nose; changes at different ages; drawing front and side views of noses; shading the lips; drawing open mouth; drawing teeth.
- Lesson 3 – Hair and Ears. How to draw shiny, curly, long, short, boys’ hair, girls’ hair, different styles, drawing hair for children of various races; simple method for drawing ears.
- Lesson 4 – Facial Expressions. Putting all the features together to draw faces front view and in profile; how to create natural-looking expressions (laughing, frowning, surprised) in both babies and young children.
- Lesson 5 – Hands. Drawing realistic hands; how finger length changes at different ages; drawing expressive hands (closed fist, holding an object, pointing).
- Lesson 6 – Body Size and Proportion. Drawing the whole child, infant to age 5; how proportions change each year; drawing different body types (slim, average, heavy).
- Lesson 7 – The Child in Action. Drawing babies and children in motion; using foreshortening to make a moving child look natural; drawing clothing.
- Lesson 8 – Capturing a Likeness. Tips and techniques for drawing a “portrait style” head-and-shoulders image that looks like your subject.
All lessons are housed on a private website. You may keep your video access permanently and instructor feedback is always available via email.
The supply list for the course is very brief:
- 4B drawing pencil
- HB drawing pencil
- kneaded eraser
- plenty of drawing paper (copy paper is fine for this – anything that provides room for lots of drawing practice)
- a piece of Bristol vellum or good quality sketchbook paper for the final lesson
Still have questions? Email me!
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Eight Flowers Eight Ways
10 Lessons – work at your own pace
LIFETIME ACCESS $40
This richly illustrated, information-packed course focuses on drawing and painting eight historic flowers (orchid, peony, saffron crocus, angel trumpet and more) using eight very different techniques. We’ll use pencil, ink and watercolor — separately and in various combinations, and in a variety of creative styles. Each lesson includes video and multiple printable pages. Unlimited instructor guidance and feedback are available by email. Keep video access forever.
DOWNLOAD SUPPLY LIST FOR “EIGHT FLOWERS EIGHT WAYS”
Some photos from 8 Flowers 8 Ways:
Questions about Eight Flowers Eight Ways? Email me!
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The Heirloom Garden in Colored Pencil
10 Lessons – work at your own pace
LIFETIME ACCESS $50
Old-fashioned flowers and their pollinators, including bees and butterflies, are the focus of this 10-lesson online course. “The Heirloom Garden in Colored Pencil” provides detailed, step-by-step instruction in seeing and accurately drawing a wide range of flowering plants in graphite and colored pencil. No previous art experience needed.
Some photos from Heirloom Garden in Colored Pencil:
Questions about this course? Email me!
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Botanical Sketchbook Painting
4 Modules – 30 Tutorials – work at your own pace
LIFETIME ACCESS $50
Every plant has a fascinating story waiting to be told. Roses and the legend of St. Elizabeth, irises and the survival of King Clovis to become the father of the French nation, angel trumpets and the doomed settlement of Jamestown — turn over any leaf and find a tale hidden just beneath. In my new course, Botanical Sketchbook Paintings, learn to tone and texture your own paper to create a wonderful vintage look that can range from rustic to refined. Then use a surprisingly simple four-step method for layering opaque paint and colored pencil to make botanical images that sing on the page. A lighthearted look at page design will provide ideas for arranging the elements of your botanical tale. We’ll also cover tips for distilling your written narrative down to a few bright, clear sentences and labels that communicate the heart of your story hand-in-hand with the drawn and painted page.
Here’s the supply list. If you live where some of the materials aren’t available, or prefer to use something you already have, I can advise on good substitutes.
Supply List:
- 2B drawing pencil and kneaded eraser
- 12-tube set of Reeves gouache (costs $10.50 from www.dickblick.com)
- Large plastic watercolor palette or old white china plate for mixing paint
- Pigma Micron black waterproof ink pen, size 03 or 05
- Basic set (12 or more) Prismacolor Premiere colored pencils
- Inexpensive synthetic watercolor brushes – #1 round, #4 round, #10 round
- A sheet of heavy watercolor paper (at least 300 lb weight). Cold press. Buy a full 22×30 inch sheet if possible, and you can use it for several paintings.
Some photos from Botanical Sketchbook Painting:
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NEW! Gentle Garden: Carbon Pencil Botanicals
12 Lessons – work at your own pace
LIFETIME ACCESS $90
Less smudgy and easier to control than charcoal, richer and darker than graphite — and with no graphite “shine” … carbon pencil is a sensitive and satisfying medium for botanical drawing. In a series of 12 step-by-step video lessons, learn new techniques while drawing a wide range of flowers and their pollinators. Each video is accompanied by illustrated printable pages and a selection of licensed reference images.
KEEP YOUR COURSE ACCESS FOREVER. There is no expiration date for your video access; the password-protected site is yours permanently. Work at your own pace. Unlimited instructor feedback is available anytime you like, via email. You do not have to complete a lesson each week — your site password will never expire.
NEW! BEGINNERS WELCOME – THIS IS A “FREEHAND OPTIONAL” COURSE. Please don’t let a lack of drawing experience keep you from the course. Every lesson begins with a demo of how to draw a preliminary sketch in 2B pencil before we begin to layer the carbon pencils… BUT if you prefer to concentrate on carbon pencil blending and shading now, and save the freehand sketching practice for later, I will also provide printable preliminary sketches you can transfer and use to get started. Happy to help!
PLANTS & POLLINATORS WE WILL DRAW:
- Week 1. Skill builder – soft blending and surface patterns. Draw a carbon pencil study of heliconius butterfly Red Postman.
- Week 2. Botanical drawing – Use soft blending / surface patterns to draw the dazzling heliconius butterfly Zebra Longwing on flowering lantana.
- Week 3. Skill builder – creating depth and contrast with layering, also drawing textured stems and leaves. Draw a carbon pencil study of long-stemmed plants you choose.
- Week 4. Botanical drawing – Use techniques for creating depth and textured leaves to draw hardworking bumblebees on bearded iris.
- Week 5. Skill builder – drawing over soft tones to create furry, shiny, and velvety textures. Draw a carbon pencil study of the world’s cutest pollinator, the honey possum (Australia).
- Week 6. Botanical drawing – Use drawing over soft tones to draw flying fox (Pteropus bat) and the exotic wild banana blossom.
- Week 7: Skill builder – combining carbon pencils to create metallic textures. Draw a carbon pencil study of the wonderfully metallic aquatic leaf beetle.
- Week 8: Botanical drawing – Use combined carbon pencils to draw a water lily leaf beetle on Nymphea odorata, a fragrant white water lily that traps its pollinators!
- Week 9: Skill builder – Four steps to a rich solid black background. Draw a carbon pencil study of a creamy magnolia blossom isolated on a black background.
- Week 10: Botanical drawing – use four-step background technique to draw a moonflower and its nocturnal pollinator, a beautiful sphinx moth, in a nighttime setting.
- Week 11: Skill builder – blending and detailing to create brick texture and wood texture in carbon pencil. Draw a carbon pencil study of a patterned daylily with weathered brick background.
- Week 12: Botanical drawing – use blending and detailing to draw heirloom multiflora petunias spilling over a window box, and their hummingbird pollinator.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE SUPPLY LIST FOR GENTLE GARDEN
ENROLLMENT WILL BE LIMITED. PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. THANKS!
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Draw & Paint Six Culinary Herbs
10 Lessons – work at your own pace
LIFETIME ACCESS $50
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD LIST OF HERBS WE WILL DRAW
Draw & Paint Six Culinary Herbs will incorporate all the things that make the humble kitchen garden a place of a thousand small delights. In addition to learning to create softly shaded pencil studies, spirited ink-and-wash sketches and richly layered color renderings that combine watercolor and colored pencil, we’ll also explore the history and folklore associated with our six herbs. Each lesson will include art demo videos, printable illustrated instruction pages and photo tutorials posted on our private class website — as well as illustrated tips on growing, harvesting and using our culinary collection.
Art topics covered in the course include:
- How to develop the habit of looking deeply at your subject, so that you clearly see and understand its structure
- Three steps to creating a quick and accurate foundation sketch
- How to draw leaves in perspective
- My “gentle pencil” technique for softly shaded pencil studies
- How to combine ink and wash for fast and elegant herb drawings
- Traditional layering of watercolor and colored pencil to build a richly detailed rendering
- Color matching and color mixing – including highlights and shadows
- The structure of an herb plant, and some basic terminology
Photos from Draw and Paint Six Culinary Herbs:
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Draw and Paint Fairies in Nature
10 Lessons – work at your own pace
LIFETIME ACCESS $50
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SUPPLY LIST
I love drawing fairies. They allow me to combine all my favorite art subjects (children, botanicals, birds, insects, small furry animals) in various whimsical combinations to create a gentle world where you can fish from the top of a Great Blue Heron or hitch a ride on a passing opossum.
Learn about fairy proportion from infant to adolescent, how to show physical and facial expressions, how to draw assorted wings and attire, how to create a background, how to draw fairies in action (and in flight) or at rest. Draw and paint the fairies’ neighbors, birds and mice. Discover techniques for using color to create a rich natural atmosphere.
While this course is open to students at all levels of art experience, you will enjoy it much more if you already have a few basic drawing skills. If you are just starting out, I encourage you to sign up for one of my other drawing courses first … and then take Draw & Paint Fairies in Nature.
Some photos from Draw and Paint Fairies in Nature:
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Fairies II: Draw & Paint the Enchanted World
10 Lessons – work at your own pace
LIFETIME ACCESS $50
CLICK TO PRINT THE SUPPLY LIST
This magical course continues where my Fairies I course left off: We will draw and paint enchanted landscapes, interiors, moonlight, candlelight — and the neighboring inhabitants of the fairy realm, including goblins and trolls, dragons and unicorns, tree spirits, moonlight and candlelight, the Woodwife and more.
NOTE: THIS COURSE IS DESIGNED TO FOLLOW THE FAIRIES I COURSE, AND CONTAINS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MATERIAL.
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I am interested in the online classes. Can you provide me details please?
Please give information on your online classes. Thank you.
Hi. Could you please send info on your dog class and watercolor lettering? I am interested in both.
Thank you!
Love your site! You are very talented!
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I am one of vals students. You will enjoy her classes.. : )
Val,
I just saw the dog and kittens class!!! Yeah, dogs and kitties are my personal favorite. Will they be available after the fairies? I sure hope so.
Thank you
Lorrie Deann
The Fairies class will be my 5th class with Val. I began with NO art experience other than photography. I was amazed to be able to follow her very detailed instructions which resulted in lovely results. Val’s critiques are very helpful and point up both the positive and less-than-positive features of each assignment. I found it beneficial to watch the video first, then work on the warm-up and finally the project … while watching the video again, stopping it as appropriate to complete the instruction and starting it for the next step. That way you are working right along with Val as if she were sitting next to you. Most helpful so that you don’t forget a step along the way as she uses many techniques to complete each project! Enjoy!!!! Carole Jurack
Hi Val, I sent you an email yesterday regarding to the online class, would be great if you could reply me. Many thanks! Xenia
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when is next watercolor lettering class?
Hi, Sherry! The next Drawn & Decorated Watercolor Lettering class will begin at the end of April. I should have the new schedule posted here in a day or two. Thank you for asking!
I would be interested in the drawn & decorated watercolor lettering class. Thank you.
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When is the next session of Drawing Dogs & Cats?
Hi, Sharon! The next session of my online course, Drawing Dogs & Cats, will start on July 21. I have posted the details on my “Upcoming Online Courses” page. I hope you will join in the fun. 🙂
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Your classes are highly recommended. I am wondering if you do any classes on gardens, more emphases on flowers and gardens than the inhabitants, birds, fairies, etc. I am a beginner and the beautiful creatures are beyond my ability level.
Thanks for reply and information
jiyinger@yahoo.com
Hi, Joanne! Thank you for your message. I am emailing you with information about flower/garden classes. 🙂
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This looks wonderful. Will you be offering classes after mid-April too?
Yes! The classes will be offered several times during the year. Thank you for asking. 🙂
Hi Val, I have some art experience but have not taken the first fairies class… Should I go ahead and take the second class or wait for the first class in May? I just want to make sure I am getting the most out of the classes.
Hi Kelly! Thank you for asking about the Fairies II class. Because it is the continuation of the earlier class and refers frequently to techniques taught during those first 10 lessons, it is only offered for those who have already taken the first course. I’ll be offering the first one again in May — the new dates will be posted in a week or so.
Is the Draw and Paint Fairies in Nature considered the first Fairies class? I only ask because I wanted to try Fairies II but needed to take Fairies I.
Yes! It is “Fairies I” and then Draw and Paint the Enchanted World is “Fairies II” – thank you for asking.
Hello, just wondering if the watercolour lettering class will be coming up again ease? Thankyou! X
Yes, thank you for asking. It will be offered starting in January. 🙂
I would like to take your watercolor lettering class but I did not get a response to my email…
Hi, Mary! Thanks for letting me know — the email was sent Dec. 3 and did not bounce back. Possibly in your spam filter? But I am so glad you are interested in the upcoming course, and I have just sent a copy of the email. See you soon!
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Hi Val –
When will you offer your herb class next?
Pam (previous student)
Hi Pam! I’m converting all my previous online courses to an “anytime” on demand format, so you can take it whenever you like and keep the video access for a full year. I will announce it as soon as I have finished the format change — probably in about 2 weeks. Thank you so much for asking!
Thank you. Don’t know which one to begin with. Very excited you are offering these. Can’t wait to get started. hl
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Hi Val
I love all your courses! they are so well put together.
quick question:
are the non animal courses also going to be available once purchased for the full year?or do they have a limited access period?
Thanks,
Adrianne
Thanks for asking! All my online courses are now accessible for a full year. 🙂
Hi Val,
Looking forward to the post card class. How about watercolor reflection on water. I would love to learn how to do that.
Will you be offering the Draw Paint Letter class again?
Thanks!
Rixanne
YES! An all new weekly email course will be announced in a few weeks. Thanks for asking. 🙂
Val, I just viewed you class on the sketchbook revival. Loved it! Thank you for sharing. I am trying to get back to the basics and incorporate more simplicity and exploring sketching and watercolors again. Thank you also for sharing so many free printables and I find that your class pricing is so reasonable. Thank you for sharing you talents with us!
I write Children’s Books and want desperately to afford your courses. This month I joined Sketchbook Revival and was pleased to come across your link:) I pray to be able to illustrate my stories🦋. Your online classes may be the answer to that 🙏 prayer.
Thanks, Tina! I work very hard to keep the prices super low on my courses, so people can enjoy them without incurring a big expense. The supply lists are always as simple as possible, for the same reason. Best wishes for success with your children’s book. I hope you will be able to join me!
O purchased a class and have not heard from you as to how to access it
incredible artwork!
love the birds!
👍✏💕🐦